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Every year, newly graduated students have dreams about moving across the country and starting a successful career in busy, exciting cities such as New York, Miami, Denver, Seattle, Boston and San Francisco. This is due to diverse, emerging industries developing overnight and demographic changes. Another reason for long-distance career exploration is that a student may simply want to experience a new area for a short amount of time (3 to 5 years).

Before packing the U-Haul or buying the plane ticket, there are many important things that students need to think about before they decide that pursuing a career in a different section of the country is the best fit for them.

Research the City Before Committing:

Some items to consider include the cost of living in the new location/city, starting salary, benefits for both you and your partner/family, and longevity of the career. It’s important (especially when pursuing your first full-time position) to research the average salary for jobs in your industry and see how they compare to the cost of living in a city. Some excellent resources to help estimate salary includes the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), glassdoor.com, and onetonline.org. To estimate living expenses using budget calculators, some great websites include www.epi.org/resources/budget and http://www.youcandealwithit.com/borrowers/calculators-and-resources/calculators/budget-calculator.shtml.

Research the Industry:

To estimate longevity of career, it’s important to research individual industries and find out the projected growth. This can be found on both www.bls.gov and onetonline.org. Students can also go on individual websites to find out the size of the company they are applying to and see if there are opportunities for promotions or transferring if needed.

Another great resource is the Career Services Center Library Guide: http://uncg.libguides.com/csc. This resources allows students to find much needed information about individual companies and industries. The Library Guide also allows students to look at internship and fellowship opportunities.

Culture of the City:

It’s also important for a student to look at the culture of the city that they are planning to move to. It’s important to look at the population size of the city, the economic growth, the cost of rent/buying a house, and recreational activities. Depending on a student’s personality and where they are in life, different things are going to be more important to them; if a student is starting a family, they might look more closely at the school system options in a city and consider this a factor.

It’s also important to consider your interview preparation with a long distance company. Many times, students will either interview over the phone or via Skype during their first communications with the company. After this initial interview, a company will choose whether to extend an offer for an on-sight interview. It’s important to know in advance whether the company is willing to pay for a student’s travel expenses during this time or if there is a policy of reimbursement (unfortunately not every company is willing to pay for travel expenses, never assume that this is a given). For more information concerning the interview process, check out the Career Services Interview Guide in our bookshelf and also check out Interviewstream (https://uncg.interviewstream.com/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2f).

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How would you answer this interview question: “Why are you the best candidate for this opportunity?”

Knowing what you want to say about yourself and being confident when you are talking about yourself during an interview meeting is a communication skill you can develop with practice.

The Career Services Center is here to assist you in your efforts to prepare, practice, and interview successfully when you meet to interview for jobs, internships, or to meet for a graduate program or professional school admissions interview.

In-Person and Remote Mock Interview Practice is available by scheduled appointment with the Career Services Center. Just give us a call at 336-334-5454 or stop by our office to set an appointment.

InterviewStream – is an interactive online web platform that you as a student can access through the Career Services Center at http://csc.uncg.edu/ and utilize to conduct ongoing interview practice from any computer at any time.

PLUS, there’s also our …

Interviewing Guide & Interviewing Tips Resources: the following interview prep resources can be found on our Career Services Center website.

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Pssst!… Feast your eyes on these FAQs about how practicing business and dining etiquette will benefit you for a lifetime! Want to learn more? Join us for our annual UNCG Etiquette Dinner Event!

Where & How will these skills come in handy?

Social Events:

Ever been intimidated by a networking event, or meeting new people for the first time?

Developing confidence around common do’s and don’ts will help you ease those nerves and let your “inner charm” shine through!

Weddings:

Never avoid the hors d’oeuvres being passed around during the reception — or stress over a plated dinner — again. Lean on the confidence you’ll gain at this year’s etiquette event to help you sail right through your dinner. And then… Let the dancing begin!

Interviews:

Don’t stumble your way through a lunch or dinner business meeting unsure of proper etiquette or nervous about what to order. Utilize the business etiquette skills you will learn while dining alongside employer representatives from such businesses as Hanesbrands, iSurity, and Lincoln Financial Group.

You will be reaching for the right fork and spoon — AND maybe even an offer letter — in no time!

Still not convinced? Check out videos featuring Aimee Symington, an internationally acclaimed etiquette expert, who is our featured guest speaker for this year’s Etiquette Dinner Event.

To see additional Etiquette Dinner Event details and to RSVP (space is limited), visit SpartanCareers, TODAY!

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College campuses are buzzing with different technological tools, apps, and more to find ways to socially connect with one another. There’s even research on the best times to post your pictures on Instagram (8pm- by the way) to get the most likes. Check that out here on the CoSchedule Blog

There’s also profound research discussing how your online presence can absolutely influence your job search. You’ve heard the stories before: an unsavory post is made about a supervisor or a customer and suddenly that person is out of their job.

Here Are 4 Tips to Take Ownership of Your Social Media Presence:

Build a LinkedIn Profile

Think of this as a way to make a first impression before the interviews begin. This active website allows you to connect with your professional network, endorse your peers, record your accomplishments, and provide deeper details beyond your resume.

Put your LinkedIn page URL on your business card or resume to direct employers to see if you have any common connections and to show off your media presence.

Follow this guide from the Career Services Website to build an “All-Star” page!

Create a Brand with Your Username and Handle

Using the same personalized handle/weblink name for each of your accounts creates consistency and accurate searches for the media you want employers to see.

You get the idea? This makes it easier when an employer is researching to see that the content of those pages belong to you.

Google Yourself

Googling can give you an idea of how an employer may see you. Log out of your Gmail and any personal accounts first so that it can be as similar to an employer’s view as possible.

Don’t like what you see? One way to start pushing down unpleasant google results that can’t be deleted is to start creating your own branding content online. Blogs, LinkedIn, Vlogs, and other media platforms that you enjoy can push those unpleasant posts out of the way.

It’s not enough to create the accounts, be sure to post or interact with other users regularly (approximately once a week) on these sites to show you are engaged in your online presence.

What Does a Privacy Setting Say About You?

To some employers, that looks like you have something to hide.

Remember — not taking ownership of your brand is giving the power to other people to define YOU.

♦Now… Take charge of your professional brand by building a LinkedIn profile, following these tips, and checking out www.uncg.edu/csc for more information on building your online presence!

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The Fall Career Fair Has Moved to a New Location! The 2016 Fall Career Fair is growing, and has moved to the Kaplan Center, at 1301 W Gate City Blvd. On Wednesday, September 28th from 10:00am-2:00pm, more than 100 employers will gather to meet and recruit UNCG students of all majors. Local employers will be offering positions in management, financial services, communications, logistics, healthcare, government, non-profit, graduate schools and MORE. Students of all class years will find opportunities here, highlighting paid internships and full time jobs.

Commonly Asked Questions:

How do I get to the Kaplan Center? The Leonard J. Kaplan Center for for Wellness is located across the street from the Campus Police Station, and close to Spartan Village. We encourage students to use Spartan Chariots to attend the fair. The live GPS tracker is available to help students plan their entry and exit from the fair. Additional options include walking or parking (at cost) in the Oakland Parking Deck.

Are suits required? No. While in years past suits have been required to attend this event, going forward professional attire is the standard. We want students to be able to understand their audience (meaning what the organization’s culture expects of their professionals), and how to dress appropriately. Common examples include slacks, collared shirts, blouses, dresses and skirts. Keep in mind that to be as competitive as possible, looking the part is important. For more conservative industries, suits continue to be a standard. We strongly encourage students to keep this in mind as they work to gain experience and prepare for graduation. The Career Services Center has a small inventory of suit pieces available for students to keep if interested. Stop by our office to learn more!

What is the one thing I should do if I’m considering attending?Come to the Career Fair! Whether you’re ready for an internship or full time job, or simply curious – there’s an option for every student. Career Fair tours will be available for students less comfortable with approaching employers independently and who may not be ready to consider full time employment options. Led by Career Coaches, students will have the opportunity to tour the career fair in small groups in order to connect and to learn from participating employers. Students with more specific interests will have the opportunity to flow through the event at will.

Use Our Career Fair App! To find specific employers during the career fair, or to research in advance, download our career fair app! UNCG Career Fair Plus — it’s available for download either from the Apple Store and or from Google Play.

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Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally funded program that provides subsidized part-time employment opportunities to students with financial need. In order to be eligible for FWS, you must be enrolled at least half-time and have documented financial need. Your need is calculated and based on the information submitted on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FWS is an allotment of money that you may earn during the academic year and is intended to assist you in meeting the cost of education at UNCG. The FWS Program is an excellent opportunity to acquire many of the skills necessary for future careers and to earn money while you are in school.

Applying For a Work Study Job – You must have been awarded FWS in order to apply for work study jobs!

Click the SpartanCareers logo in the Tool Box Use the following login credentials

Username: Your UNCG username

Password: Your University password – **This should be the same as your iSpartan login.**

If logging in for the first time, review and complete your profile. (You will not have a profile if you are not yet enrolled.)

Go to “Job Search” tab on the top tool bar. Use the “Position Type” search box to find all work-study job listings. Click any job title to view the description and job qualifications. Follow the “How to Apply” instructions for each individual job posting.

♦ Please note that the date jobs are posted may not reflect their actual availability, so check every job that interests you – no matter how long ago it was posted.

WORK STUDY FAQ:

Can FWS be used to defer my bill or used for payment of tuition and fees? Yes. However, you must contact the Cashiers Office for further details.

Do I get a check for the total amount of the award? No. To earn FWS you must have a federal work-study job. Once employed, you will receive monthly paychecks for hours worked. You are, however, limited to the award amount each semester. Once you reach that award amount, you must stop working.

How many hours a week will I work? FWS students work an average of 8 hours per week depending on the rate of hourly pay. It is a UNCG policy that students cannot work more than 28 hours per week. Work schedules will be determined by your class schedule and the needs of the department. Typically, you will begin working during the first week of classes and cease work on the last day of classes. It is expected that you fulfill your obligation with a department for at least one full semester.

Will I have to work during holidays and school breaks? No. FWS students are not required to work during breaks. Working during breaks is an option, but it is at the discretion of the department and the Financial Aid Office.

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You are on your way to opening new doors and possibilities as you complete your UNCG degree! Completing your degree will give you access to jobs and experiences you have never had before, but you need to be prepared to take full advantage of these opportunities.

The Career Services Center wants to help you:

1. Research and select a career that is an ideal fit for you

2. Apply for jobs and connect on campus with employers

3. Prepare for your job search

4. Gain skills and knowledge to manage your career for life

Our blog is a great way for you to stay informed of upcoming events and to take advantage of our resources. Only through the Career Services Center can you:

Identify your unique strengths and how they fit with a future career

Develop your customized resume and practice interviewing

Meet over 100 employers on campus

Access hundreds of job postings from employers interested in hiring Spartans for internships and full-time jobs

Meet alumni who can help you learn about different career paths

Follow this blog (and our other social media – LinkedIn UNCG Spartans Network, Facebook, and Twitter) to stay up to date on everything that’s happening, stop by our office (#1 EUC, next to Subway) anytime between 10am – 4pm during the semester to speak with a Peer Career Ambassador or Career Coach, and let us help you open new doors!